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Margaret enjoys taste of freedom

26/ 7/2008

SPRINGHILL Hospice founder Margaret Geoghegan has joined the illustrious ranks of Sir Cyril Smith and Dame Gracie Fields in being granted freedom of the borough.

The accolade was given in recognition of her role in the launch of the hospice almost 20 years ago.

Mrs Geoghegan was instrumental in the creation of the Broad Lane centre, which is recognised as one of the best in the country, providing support for patients with terminal illnesses and their families.

In addition to a 16-bed facility for patients, the hospice provides a day centre and out-patient clinic, a community support service, plus an education and study centre

The motion was moved by Councillor Ashley Dearnley at Wednesday night’s council meeting.

He said: "I am delighted to be able to move this motion to grant Margaret Geoghegan freedom of the borough for all the work she has done for the hospice."

It was while she was working as a ward clerk at Birch Hill Hospital in the early 80s that Mrs Geoghegan became convinced of the desperate need for a hospice in Rochdale.

She had lost her husband, a former fire chief in town, to cancer and watched scores of families struggle to care for terminally ill relatives.

"We need a hospice in Rochdale," she would tell anyone who would listen.

It became a crusade and she got together a team that included doctors, nurses, a banker and a solicitor. In 1983 a public meeting was held, when a target of £250,000 was set. The first month saw £1,700 in the kitty as the people of Rochdale quickly got behind Mrs Geoghegan.

By 1984 the target had become £800,000 and the following year, the mayor, Councillor Norman Angus, handed the group the lease for the land at Broad Lane.

Her vision became a reality in 1989 when the Springhill Hospice was opened by Princess Anne.

By then, Mrs Geoghegan had been awarded the MBE for her work in the health service and only last year she was honoured again when she was awarded the Order of Mercy by the trustees of the League of Mercy Foundation.